VERT / GREEN
Identify the system, document its condition and keep drainage/exterior details accessible where possible.
Permanent wood foundation (PWF)
Recognize a preservative-treated wood foundation and check drainage, membranes, fasteners, moisture and alterations before opening or backfilling.
JAUNE / YELLOW
A PWF is an engineered system: membrane, granular drainage, treated wood and structural details work together.
ROUGE / RED
Soft/decayed wood, persistent leakage, structural alteration or compromised membrane/drainage: expert assessment required.
Interactive triage
This triage helps choose the next step; it does not replace design, permitting or professional diagnosis.
Useful tools and data
- PWF plans/data
- Moisture meter
- Membrane/drainage photos
What the professional checks
- Confirm system compliance
- Assess structure and moisture
- Detail compatible repair
Official sources
Checked 2026-08-22.
Related path
Continue with the right tools
These links connect this page to the next useful checks and decisions without repeating the full content.
Plan a complete construction projectConnect feasibility, design, permits, concealed work, commissioning and closeout.Open →Check permit triggersPrepare the questions and documents to confirm with the local authority.Open →Check a contractorDocument licence, insurance, scope, payments, changes and warranties.Open →Update a construction costEscalate a historical cost using comparable index values.Open →Prepare pre-delivery reviewRecord documents, enclosure, systems, finishes and deficiencies before closeout.Open →
Tools related to this issue
V14
Systems to check before closing the work
V14 connects envelope, air, fire, structure, water and code instead of treating each project in isolation.
V16
Advanced diagnostics to cross-check
V16 connects water, soil, climate, safety, materials and seasonal use to existing projects.
V17
Specialized systems to cross-check
V17 completes gas, soil, water, fire, climate and structural interfaces.
V18
Specialized diagnostics to verify
V18 connects systems that become costly or regulated when a primary project triggers them.
V19
Edge systems to integrate into the project
V19 covers interfaces that become important when multiple home systems interact.
V27
Project risks and overlooked interfaces
V27 connects payment, water, envelope, ventilation and jobsite details that often create costly surprises.
V28
Finish and service details to verify
V28 connects small details that become costly once finishes are closed.
V32
Post-disaster and legacy systems
V32 connects contamination, storm damage, legacy materials and recommissioning before rebuilding.
V33
Invisible constraints before work
V33 checks electrical, legal, environmental and climate constraints that can block a project before demolition starts.
V34
Use, excavation and construction constraints
V34 connects use permits, soil, excavation, neighbouring structures and public-space logistics before hard-to-reverse work.